Chebet, Kosgei among top marathoners confirmed for New York City

The New York City Marathon defending champion Evans Chebet and record holder Brigid Kosgei headline the list of elite marathoners set for this year's edition on November 5.

This year's race is expected to feature 17 Olympians, 11 World Championships medalists, and six past event champions.

Two-time champion Geoffrey Kamworor, and World Championships medalist Maru Teferi will be in the men’s race, as well as Olympic and World Championships medalist Letesenbet Gidey, U.S. Olympian Molly Huddle, and the top six finishers from 2022 in the women’s race.

Men’s Open Division

The men’s open division will be led by defending champion Chebet of Kenya, who won the New York City Marathon in his debut last year in 2:08:41, seven months after winning the Boston Marathon.

He became the eighth man in history to win both races in the same year and the first since 2011. Chebet already defended his Boston title earlier this year and has finished first or second in 13 marathons.

“I feel very confident as I begin my preparations to defend my TCS New York City Marathon title,” Chebet said. “I understand that nobody has won Boston and New York in back-to-back years since Bill Rodgers in the 1970’s, so making history will be my aim,” he said.

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Challenging Chebet will be Kamworor, a Kenyan Olympian and three-time half marathon world champion who is looking to become only the third athlete to win three New York City Marathon men’s open division titles. He won in both 2019 and 2017, and has made the podium in all four of his appearances.

The 2023 World Athletics Championships marathon silver medalist Teferi, two-time World Championships silver medalist Mosinet Geremew of Ethiopia, Olympic silver medalist Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands, 2021 TCS New York City Marathon champion Albert Korir of Kenya, two-time New York City Marathon runner-up Shura Kitata of Ethiopia, North America’s marathon record-holder Cam Levins of Canada, and 2023 United Airlines NYC Half podium finisher Zouahir Talbi of Morocco will also toe the line.

Kenya’s Edward Cheserek, a former New Jersey high school phenom and the most decorated athlete in NCAA history, will make his 26.2-mile debut, while the American contingent will be led by 2022 USATF Marathon champion Futsum Zienasellaissie and 2021 TCS New York City Marathon fourth-place finisher Elkanah Kibet.

Women’s Open Division

Along with previously announced New York City Marathon champion Sharon Lokedi, Boston Marathon and United Airlines NYC Half champion Hellen Obiri, Olympic gold medalist and 2021 New York City Marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir, and marathon world-record holder Kosgei, all top six finishers from last year’s women’s race will return.

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In addition to Lokedi and Obiri, last year’s runner-up and two-time Olympian and World Championships medalist Lonah Chemtai Salpeter of Israel, as well as third-place finisher and two-time World Championships medalist Gotytom Gebreslase of Ethiopia will be back. Kenyans Edna Kiplagat – a New York City, Boston, London and World Championships Marathon winner –and Olympian Viola Cheptoo will also return.

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Ethiopia’s Olympic and World Championships medalist Gidey, the 10,000-meter and half marathon world-record holder, recorded the fastest women’s marathon debut in history last year (2:16:49) in Valencia and will make her New York City Marathon debut.

Yalemzerf Yehualaw, a World Championships bronze medalist and the 2022 London Marathon winner, will also line up for the first time.

Leading the American women will be two-time Olympian and three-time United Airlines NYC Half champion Huddle, who will be racing her third TCS New York City Marathon after finishing third in 2016 and fourth in 2018.

Name Country Personal Best

Mosinet Geremew ETH 2:02:55

Evans Chebet KEN 2:03:00

Geoffrey Kamworor KEN 2:04:23

Shura Kitata ETH 2:04:49

Abdi Nageeye NED 2:04:56

Cam Levins CAN 2:05:36

Maru Teferi ISR 2:06:43

Koen Naert BEL 2:06:56

Iliass Aouani ITA 2:07:16

Belachew Alemamehu Ameta ETH 2:07:55

Albert Korir KEN 2:08:01

Zouhair Talbi MAR 2:08:35

Jemal Yimer ETH 2:08:58

Elkanah Kibet USA 2:09:07

Futsum Zienasellassie USA 2:09:40

Hendrik Pfeiffer GER 2:10:18

Nathan Martin USA 2:10:45

Reed Fischer USA 2:10:54

Tyler McCandless USA 2:12:28

John Raneri USA 2:12:33

Erenjia Jia CHN 2:12:44

Joe Whelan USA 2:13:39

Sydney Gidabuday USA 2:14:48

Will Nation USA 2:15:12

Ryan Root USA 2:15:22

Thomas Slattery USA 2:15:32

Andreas Myhre Sjurseth NOR 2:16:05

Wesley Robinson USA 2:16:08

Garret Lee USA 2:16:57

Andrew Butchart GBR Debut

Edward Cheserek KEN Debut

Alberto Mondazzi ITA Debut

Elite women

Name Country Personal Best

Brigid Kosgei KEN 2:14:04

Letesenbet Gidey ETH 2:16:49

Peres Jepchirchir KEN 2:17:16

Yalemzerf Yehualaw ETH 2:17:23

Lonah Chemtai Salpeter ISR 2:17:45

Gotytom Gebreslase ETH 2:18:11

Edna Kiplagat KEN 2:19:50

Mary Ngugi-Cooper KEN 2:20:22

Viola Cheptoo KEN 2:22:44

Hellen Obiri KEN 2:21:38

Sharon Lokedi KEN 2:23:23

Kellyn Taylor USA 2:24:29

Fantu Jifar ETH 2:25:45

Molly Huddle USA 2:26:33

Solange Jesus POR 2:28:15

Sydney Devore USA 2:31:08

Marie-Ange Brumelot FRA 2:33:19

Meriah Earle USA 2:34:19

Joanna Reyes USA 2:36:23

Reporting by NYRR Media